Big Sky’s the limit

The 2010 season hasn’t gone exactly as planned for Portland State women’s soccer. The team is currently on a five-game winless streak, and has an overall record of 4-7-1 this season.

However, these results will not matter for the Viks as the reigning Big Sky Conference’s regular season champs begin defending their title when league play kicks off this weekend. Portland State takes on Eastern Washington at 5 p.m. today at Hillsboro Stadium, before hosting Montana at

1 p.m. on Sunday.

Portland State head coach Laura Schott, last year’s Big Sky Coach of the Year, said her Vikings have played a challenging schedule to date.

“A lot of players have had the opportunity to play during our non-conference matches, and they’ve played very well,” she said. “I’m looking forward to starting conference play.”

Last season, the month of October was the turning point in Portland State’s championship campaign, with the Viks getting into their rhythm and going 6-1-2 that month. The team won all four home games and finished the Big Sky regular season with a title-winning 4-1-2 record, scoring

11 goals in the process.

Eastern Washington has the worst record among Big Sky teams in 2010 and has lost

every game since the draw against California State Bakersfield in its season opener. The Eagles go into league play with a 0-9-1 record.

In the head-to-head series between the schools, Portland State leads, 9-4-1. Last season, a PSU goal in the dying seconds from junior defender Toni Carnovale earned the Viks a 1-1 draw with the Eagles when they met in Cheney, Wash. Portland State’s sole loss to the Eagles was back in 2000, when they fell 3-2.

Montana’s record in 2010, too, has not been a source of pride. The Lady Griz are 1-8-2 this season, placing them just above Eastern Washington and Weber State in the Big Sky standings. Their only win was a 1-0 triumph over North

Dakota on Sept. 19.

Portland State currently trails the Grizzlies 6-8-1 in the head-to-head series, but has won six of the last seven meetings. Last season, senior Frankie Ross scored the lone goal in the 1-0 win over the Grizzlies. Ross is currently the joint top scorer for the Vikings in 2010 with three goals and is tied at fourth for assists in the program’s history.

This year, Portland State looks to become the first team to win back-to-back Big Sky regular season championships since Montana in 1999–2000.

Currently, Ross and juniors Kala Renard and Melissa Trammel lead the team with three goals each. In total, the team’s 16 goals have come from nine different players.

Last weekend, the Viks settled for a 1-1 draw after taking the lead against Utah Valley at home, and were then shot down by Seattle, 0-2, on the road.

For Schott, this weekend offers a chance for her 20th win at the helm of Portland State’s women’s soccer program, and if she succeeds she will be only the third coach in the program’s history to reach such a milestone. Over the past two seasons, Schott has the best record among Big Sky coaches (8-2-4).

“Both EWU and Montana are physical teams that bring their best when conference matches start,” Schott said. “Conference games are always exciting, and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Home games:

Portland State vs.

Eastern Washington

Hillsboro Stadium

Fri., 5 p.m.

Portland State vs.

Montana

Hillsboro Stadium

Sun., 1 p.m.

Portland State’s probable lineup:

GK    00    Rachel Jarvis

D     4    Michelle Hlasnik

D    7    Toni Carnovale

D    11    Melissa Trammell

D    14    Emily Rohde

M    18    Carlie Martin

M    3    Amanda Dutra

M    10    Amanda Howie

F    16    Teal Sigler

F    17    Brittany Allen

F    22    Frankie Ross